http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com

Personally kitchens are my favourite rooms in the house. For some reason, wherever you are, somehow everyone always ends up in the kitchen. It’s definitely the heart of the house, and if you are a cook and even if you’re not, there is no need to live in a kitchen that is less than satisfying. (that is of course, if the budget permits)

Kitchens and bathrooms yield the most ROI (return on investments) if you ever decide to sell. So, rest assured that whatever changes you can afford to make will go a long way. They will bring happiness and satisfaction to you while you’re living and enjoying the space, and will wow potential buyers when it’s time to sell.

There are many ways to update the look of your kitchen. And it all comes down to your budget, time & desire as to how much you want to change in your current kitchen. I’ve come up with a list of some designer tips to help you make the best of your renovation dollar and create a beautiful space that will inspire you to cook or simply entertain!

1. Paint – Painting out the walls is one of the easiest, most affordable and impactful changes you can make in your kitchen. Do not underestimate the power of color! It has been proven through countless of studies that color has a huge impact on our mood. So choose a beautiful color that makes you happy & get painting! If you need help choosing colors, you can contact me personally, and I can help you make the choice =)

2. Paint the cabinets - There are a few ways of going about updating and resurfacing your existing cabinets. If you have the budget, then by all means, change the cabinets, but most of the time if the cabinets are in a decent condition, you can give them a second life by doing a few DIY projects. If your cabinets are solid wood, you are lucky! Because you can clean, sand & restain the cabinet doors & drawer fronts into a beautiful wood stain. A rich dark chocolate color is a personal favourite of mine for a more classic contemporary look, however, lighter wood tones can also work well. Another option is to simply paint the cabinets in a durable eggshell or semigloss finish and save thousands of dollars. You can also get them professionally spray painted in a lacquer finish, which would look great, but will cost more.

www.apartmenttherapy.com

3. Change the hardware – This has got to be one of the most affordable ways to dramatically change the whole look & style of the kitchen. There are so many amazing options to choose from right now, in all kinds of finishes such as: brushed stainless-steel, brass, glass/crystal, iron, nickel and more. Here are a few places that I like to shop at: eBay (you can find some unique stuff one there, that nobody else has), IKEA (simple, modern & affordable), Lee Valley Tools (a huge variety of all kinds of styles & price ranges)

4. Sink & Faucets – This is another easy but dramatic change. This is one of those expenses that can cost a lot, but doesn’t have to. Nowadays, you can choose from a wide variety of pretty nice things from big box stores, like Home Depot, Lowes and more.

5. Backsplash – One of my most favourite places to inject style, personality and flair is through a backsplash. The role of the backsplash is both functional & aesthetic. As far as options go, you can choose from a simple subway tile, to mosaic tiles in different materials, such as, glass, metal, stone & porcelain. Here are my 2 go to places for backsplash: Stone Tile & Saltillo Imports. Backsplash should act as a place to put together all the colors in the room, like wall colors, cabinet colors, window treatments and any other accents you might have.

http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com

6. Lighting fixtures - Don’t neglect the importance of good lighting. It is not only aesthetically pleasing, it’s also very important to have proper lighting functionality wise. Three areas to address are: Ambient lighting (main lighting), pendants (hung above an island if you have one) & accent lights on dimmers (under cabinet lights to showcase your new beautiful backsplash & also to leave on when you don’t need a lot of light)

7. Window treatments – You want to let in as much natural light as possible, but if privacy is an issue a simple roman blind is a great solutions. Again, it won’t work in all kitchens, but you can always add a bit of glamour with beautiful drapes hung on either side of the window (if applicable). Whatever you choose, don’t forget to address the windows one way or the other. Otherwise it will end up looking cold & unfinished, and you don’t want that, right?

8. Countertops – This change is a bit more costly, but again, doesn’t have to be. There are quite a few great laminate countertops available, from big-box-stores that will change the look of your kitchen dramatically. If, however your budget is a bit higher, consider investing in a solid surface tops like quartz, granite or caesarstone. Yes, they cost more, but in the long run are a lot more durable and will not wear as much as a laminate will.

http://www.europeancabinets.com

9. Flooring – Depending on the size of your kitchen it could be a pricy update. Options range from laminate, hardwood, cork, to natural stone and porcelain tiles.

10. Accessories – A few new colorful accessories can really jazz up a space. Things like a new breadbox or towel rack. Consider adding a collection of spice jars, plates, plants, or even books. This gorgeous Kitchen Aid mixer is on my Wish-List! =)

http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/

Hope these tips inspired you to make some changes to your kitchen. If you have any specific design related questions that I have not addressed here, please feel free to contact me directly. =)

How to create them:

If there are existing architectural features and details, such as large windows, crown moldings, arches, fireplaces etc then you should definitely take advantage of them by highlighting their natural charm and characters. That is the easy part, but what do you do when there are no distinctive architectural features? Don’t be discouraged – read on for some simple DIY ideas anybody can do.

Living & Family Rooms

If you are a lucky owner of a house with architectural features here is what you can do to highlight their beauty:

• Fireplace is one of the most striking features and should definitely be the focal point if you’ve got one. If it’s an old fireplace, it could be painted, or tiled to give it a new life. The mantel is a great place to accessorize – a large piece of art or a mirror could be added above for some punch and smaller accessories arranged on the mantel to tie in the fireplace with the art or mirror. Having a TV in the same room as the fireplace used to be a problem, but not anymore, as more and more people are investing in a plasma screen TVs, it should be mounted above the mantel and will not fight with the focal point of the fireplace. Mounting it above the fireplace is really the perfect spot for it, since when it’s on, you will have a cozy seating arrangement around the fireplace and can enjoy both at the same time, and when it’s off it disappears almost seamlessly into the background. Especially if there are a couple of accessories on the mantel that add visual interest. Remember though, that less is more and try to avoid creating visual clutter.

• Painting out the moldings in white or off-white shades will create contrast against the wall colour and will certainly make them pop in the room.
• If you’ve got beautiful large windows, the view should be the focal point, and just like you would frame a piece of art, a great way to accentuate the view and soften the windows is to hang beautiful drapes on either side. Also, you can protect your home with indoor wood plantation shutters to cover from dust and other particles. And keep in mind also that the right Window Blinds can let in the ideal amount of sunlight into a room.

Bedrooms

The bed should be the focal point of the bedroom. The ways to create a beautiful feature of your bed are as follows:

• Having a headboard is a great way to ground the bed and also add visual interest to the bed. Upholstered headboards give off a luxurious feel to any bedroom. Adding a large piece of art or a simple yet interesting arrangement of photographs above the bed is another way to create an illusion of a headboard if you don’t have on.
• Bedding choices are very important and are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to add instant style and personality to any bedroom. Having some decorative pillows in complimentary fabrics is another way to create a luxurious & cozy bed.
• No bedroom is complete without a pair of bedside tables and a couple of table lamps or wall sconces. There are so many beautiful choices out there, and you’ll be sure to find one that fits your style & budget. Add a few small accessories to the table and your bedroom will look like a photo from a magazine spread.

Kitchens & Bathrooms

• Adding beautiful glass mosaics or ceramic / porcelain tiles to you kitchen backsplash will definitely create a stunning feature. Although glass mosaic tiles can be a bit pricey, remember that in most cases you will not need more than 50 sq/ft and trust me for the effect it creates, it is well worth the minimal investment! You can of course, opt for a simpler and more affordable look, such as a white or cream subway tile, which would still look clean & beautiful. Natural stone is another option, but does require sealing and requires regular maintenance.

• Same principal as with the kitchen backsplash, tiling a portion of the above the sink area or the shower walls is an excellent way to create a striking focal point.
• Adding a beautiful mirror above the sink in the bathroom can also create a strong focal point.

So, what if you don’t have any existing features? There is lots of things you can do with the use of colour, fabric, wallpaper, lighting and accessories. Below are just a few of the possible ideas:

• Paint is by far the cheapest way to add high impact to any space. Paining out a feature wall in an accent colour is a sure way to create an instant focal point.
• Graphic and patterned wallpaper is another stunning way to create a feature wall. There are so many gorgeous options out there today, but don’t over do it, if the pattern is too strong, keep it to a minimum and just wallpaper one wall for contrast against the painted walls

• Artwork is another great way to create focal points. The larger and the more bright and colourful the piece, naturally the more attention it will grab, so choose art pieces carefully based on what sort of impact you wish to create.

• Pillows or throw blankets on a couch can transform a bland couch into a centerpiece of a room. Choose bold patterns and prints, but stick to one or two at the most.
• Furniture pieces act like instant focal points, such as a large china cabinet, an armoire, or a coffee table. Also, if you’ve got any antique pieces, show them off! Make them the focal point, as antiques add certain character and charm that new, modern furniture cannot compete with.
• Lighting is another fabulous way to create focal points. Anything from large chandeliers above a dining room table, to pendants above a kitchen island or some unique floor or table lamps are a sure way to attract the eye.

Remember, whatever you do, be creative, think outside the box and follow your intuition. Don’t be afraid to experiment and be bold with your choices.

Feel free to e-mail me with your specific questions, and I would be glad to help out with any of your design & decorating needs.

Photo Source: www.housetohome.co.uk, www.uktv.co.uk, www.hgtv.com, www.dcrinteriors.com, www.countryliving.com, www.modwalls.com